Candidates Sound Off: Thomas Mahon

On Thursday, March 29, the Merrimack Exchange Club held a candidate forum with the residents running for Town Council and School Board. Keeping the forum to an hour and a half, the candidates had the chance to answer just a couple questions. Below are the responses to the questions that were submitted but couldn't be asked that night. The full candidate forum can be viewed on Merrimack TV, on merrimacktv.com or by clicking on the YouTube video to the right.

Name: Tom Mahon
Age:  66
Years of Residency: 36
Family:  Dr. Donna Hastings, Spouse; Joe and Hilarie Schmalke, Son-in-Law and Daughter and Ruby Schmalke, Granddaughter (currently residing in Westbrook, ME.)

Past political service:  Town Council, 2006-Present; NH Rail Transit Authority, 2007-Present; Charter Commission, 2005-2006; Budget Committee, 1999-2002, 1992-1998, 1991, 1983-86; Merrimack Public Library Space Needs Review Committee, 2000-2004: School Board, 1986-1989; School District Clerk, 1989-1994; School District High School Space Needs Committee, 1998-99; School District Elementary School Space Needs Committee, 1995-96; School District Citizen’s Advisory Committee, 1977-78.

Past Volunteer Service: US Army. Vietnam Veteran; Life Member, American Legion, Post 98; Life Member, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 8641; Exchange Club of Merrimack 1985-2005; 4th of July Committee, 1997-2004; Honored by Rotary International, Merrimack, NH, as a Paul Harris Fellow, December 2010; Adjunct Faculty, University of New Hampshire-Manchester Graduate School, 2006-Present.

1.  Where do you see your role as it lies in the management of the town and what do you think is the role of the town manager in leading and managing the organization?

The Town Council is the governing board and the policy making body of the town. As such, the Council is required and needs to act as one, I cannot act on my own. The Town Manager is the chief operating officer of the town and implements the policies of the Council. We have been fortunate to have attracted qualified candidates and have hired two well-qualified individuals for this position with strong leadership and management skills.

2.  With changes of a growing town, do you think there are additional cuts to the town budget that need to be made? If so, where would you look to make those cuts without harming the level of service provided? 

I have worked hard on getting the council to elevate their budget horizon from the next year, to the next 3 or 4 years so that we can make prudent choices while maintaining a stable tax rate for town operations.  Like any other business I am watching our expenses and the general costs to do business. I have insisted on streamlining operations and the use of personnel, and leveraging our investments in technology to further improve productivity. This is a process that requires constant review and decision making to balance the change that is constantly occurring with the need to make the town affordable, protect property values, and continue as a great place to raise a family.

3. What do you think can be done to create a positive atmosphere that would attract another supermarket chain to locate in Merrimack? 

We have created a positive atmosphere in the town by reaching out to business to retain existing businesses and attract new business. As for another supermarket, the Community Development Office has reached out to every major chain in New England to invite them to open a store in town. To date, they have not indicated any interest. Nor would they. The supermarket business is highly competitive. It’s a tough business and they are not in the habit of revealing their interest in a particular area until they are ready to move. I did some private consulting work at Associated Grocers of New England, and the common theme was, “We are in a penny business.” People are stunned to learn that supermarket profit margins are in the 1-1.5% range. They depend on volume. So, if employment at town businesses and industries grows, it might meet the critical mass a supermarket needs to generate the volume that makes it worthwhile to move here.